U.S. patent application number 15/883631 was filed with the patent office on 2019-08-01 for transportation asset management by visually distinguishable identicons.
The applicant listed for this patent is SwiftStar. Invention is credited to Peter A. Bonanni, III, Sarah W. French.
Application Number | 20190236743 15/883631 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 67392335 |
Filed Date | 2019-08-01 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190236743 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bonanni, III; Peter A. ; et
al. |
August 1, 2019 |
Transportation Asset Management by Visually Distinguishable
Identicons
Abstract
Multimodal transportation planning and access provided through
personal computing devices leverages visually identifiable
identicons that authorize transportation on a transportation asset.
Identical identicons on a traveler's personal computing device and
a transportation professional's device indicate by their matching
authorization by the traveler to access the transportation
asset.
Inventors: |
Bonanni, III; Peter A.;
(Austin, TX) ; French; Sarah W.; (Austin,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SwiftStar |
Austin |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
67392335 |
Appl. No.: |
15/883631 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 20/127 20130101;
G06Q 20/0855 20130101; G06Q 20/407 20130101; G07F 17/0014 20130101;
G01C 21/3438 20130101; G06Q 20/145 20130101; G06Q 20/40 20130101;
G06Q 20/322 20130101; G06Q 30/0605 20130101; G06Q 2240/00 20130101;
G06Q 50/30 20130101; G07F 17/0057 20130101; G06Q 20/3276 20130101;
G01C 21/3423 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 50/30 20060101
G06Q050/30; G06Q 20/32 20060101 G06Q020/32; G06Q 20/40 20060101
G06Q020/40; G06Q 30/06 20060101 G06Q030/06; G01C 21/34 20060101
G01C021/34 |
Claims
1. A system for multimodal transportation of individuals allocated
by identicons, the system comprising: a server interfaced with a
network, the server having processing resources to execute
instructions and non-transitory memory to store the instructions,
the instructions when executed on the server processing resources
operable to: receive a starting location and a destination from a
client device interfaced with the server through the network;
generate one or more routes from the starting location to the
destination using one or more transportation modes, each route
having route information; communicate the one or more routes to the
client device; receive from the client device a selection of one
route from the one or more routes; generate one or more identicons
from the route information associated with the selection, the one
or more identicons having a visually distinguishable presentation
that authorizes access to the selected route; and communicate the
one or more identicons to the client device; and the client device
interface with the network, the client device having processing
resources to execute instructions and non-transitory memory to
store the instructions, the instructions when executed on the
client device processing resources operable to: store the identicon
in non-transitory memory having restricted access; retrieve the
identicon from the non-transitory memory in response to an end user
authorization; and present the identicon at a display integrated
with the client device, the identicon visually matching an
authorization identicon that authorizes access to the route.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a route client device
interfaced with the server through the network, the route client
device having processing resources to execute instructions,
non-transitory memory and an integrated display to present visual
images, the instructions when executed on the processing resources
operable to: receive from the server plural identicons, each
identicon associated with one of plural routes, each route having
route information; and present one identicon at each route as an
authorization identicon, the authorization identicon authorizing
visually matching identicons to access the route.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the route identicon comprises an
animation that plays on both the client device and the route client
device.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein the animation synchronizes on the
client device and the route client device by reference to a common
clock source.
5. The system of claim 2 wherein the route comprises a scheduled
time at the start location and the identicon restricted access is
released for a predetermined limited time window relative to the
scheduled time.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein identicon restricted access is
further released for a predetermined proximity to the route start
based upon a location detected at the client device.
7. The system of claim 2 wherein: the client device stores plural
identicons for the selected route, each identicon associated with a
time period; the route client device stores the plural identicons
for the selected route, each identicon associated with a time
period; and the route client device presents a one of the route
identicons at each time period and associated with the time period,
the client device authorized to access the route if the client
device has a visually identical identicon presented at a time
period as presented by the route client device.
8. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a transaction engine
stored in the server non-transitory memory having instructions that
when executed on the server processing resources is operable to:
pre-authorize an expense to the client device upon storing of the
identicon at the client device; and apply the pre-authorized
expense at the route start time.
9. The system of claim 8 further comprising: a transaction engine
stored in the client device non-transitory memory having
instructions that when executed on the client device processing
resources is operable to: track client device access to the
identicon; and reverse the applied expense if the identicon remains
unaccessed after a route start time.
10. A method for multimodal transportation of individuals allocated
by identicons, the method comprising: storing plural identicons in
plural client devices at plural transportation assets, each
identicon having a visually distinct appearance, each
transportation asset associated with one or more routes between one
or more starting locations and one or more destinations; at each of
the plural transportation assets, assigning one of the plural
identicons to each of plural access times; pre-authorizing a
transportation transaction at a rider client device, the
transportation transaction having a starting location and at least
one of the transportation assets; in response to pre-authorizing,
storing one or more of the plural identicons to non-transitory
memory of the rider client device, the stored one or more of the
plural identicons visually matching the identicons stored at the
one of the transportation assets client device, the stored one or
more of the plural identicons associated with a predetermined time
period for the one of the plural transportation asset's scheduled
time at the starting location; and authorizing access of the rider
client device at the one of the plural transportation assets if the
rider client device identicon visually matches the one of the
plural transportation asset's identicon.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising: presenting the
identicon as an animation at both the rider client device and the
one of the plural transportation asset; and synchronizing the
animation by reference to a common clock source.
12. The method of claim 10 further comprising: storing the one or
more of the plural identicons at the rider client device without
presentation of the one or more of the plural identicons at the
rider client device display; accepting an end user selection to
present the one or more of the plural identicons at the rider
client device; and charging the user the transportation transaction
upon presentation of a one of the one or more plural
identicons.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising: determining that at
time period for the transportation transaction has lapsed; and in
response to determining, removing the pre-authorizing of the
transportation transaction.
14. The method of claim 12 further comprising: detecting one or
more predetermined conditions at the rider mobile device at the
accepting an end user selection; receiving a refund request for the
charging; and comparing the one or more predetermined conditions
with expected conditions at the transportation transaction to
verify the refund request.
15. The method of claim 10 further comprising: pre-authorizing with
the transportation transaction plural types of transportation
assets between the starting location and a destination; and storing
identicons at the rider client device for each of the
transportation assets.
16. The method of claim 16 further comprising: presenting with the
rider client device at a first of the plural transportation assets
a first identicon; authorizing access to the first of the plural
transportation assets for the rider client device by a visual match
of the first identicon and an identicon presented by a route client
device at the first of the plural transportation assets; presenting
with the rider client drive at a second of the plural
transportation assets a second identicon; and authorizing access to
the second of the plural transportation assets for the rider client
device by a visual match of the second identicon and an identicon
presented by a route client device a the second of the plural
transportation assets.
17. A rider client device comprising: processing resources, a
display and non-transient memory disposed in a mobile housing, the
non-transitory memory storing instructions that when executed on
the processing resources is operable to: select plural
transportation routes, each transportation route having a starting
location, destination and transportation asset; pre-authorize a
transportation transaction for each transportation route; retrieve
to the non-transient memory at least one identicon for each
transportation route; and in response to presentation of each at
least one identicon at the display, applying the pre-authorized
transportation transaction as a cost charged to the rider client
device.
18. The rider client device of claim 17 wherein each identicon
comprises an animation visually matching an animation depicted at a
route client device to authorize access of the rider client device
at an associated transportation asset.
19. The rider client device of claim 17 wherein the instructions
are further operable to: monitor conditions associated with the
selected plural transportation routes; detect a lapse of one or
more of the selected plural transportation routes without
presentation of an associated identicon; and remove the
pre-authorization of the transportation transaction for the lapsed
transportation route.
20. The rider client device of claim 17 wherein retrieving at least
one identicon further comprises retrieving an identicon generator
operable to create an identicon associated with a transportation
route at the time of the selection of the identicon for
presentation.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates in general to the field of
transportation asset management, and more particularly to
transportation asset management by visually distinguishable
identicons.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] Ride sharing has changed transportation in many urban areas.
Conventional urban transportation has generally relied upon mass
transportation assets, such as bus and train scheduled routes,
which typically call for some rider familiarity in order to travel
efficiently. Individualized transportation, such as taxi and limo
services, tended to cost too much for the masses to use. With
widespread availability of mobile telephones and wireless data
service, ride sharing companies have connected car owner/operators
with riders through apps to provide ready transportation at the
press of a button. The supply of available rides has driven down
costs, so that has become more practical from a personal cost
perspective of a traveler.
[0003] One disadvantage of the ride sharing approach is that the
convenience of using an app has steered riders to ride sharing
transportation even where other conventional transportation options
might better meet the needs of riders. Generally, transportation
asset management involves a balance between cost and time. For
example, a ride share might get a commuter to a destination more
quickly than public transportation options, but at a greater
personal and societal cost that is often overlooked. For instance,
a traveler can often get to a destination with a short walk to a
bus stop and a bus ride that lasts a short time longer than the
ride share. Efficient shared use of the bus as a transportation
asset reduces road congestion, fuel consumption and pollution in
the urban area. In many instances, riders often tend to prefer the
simplicity of a one vehicle transportation option even with its
greater personal financial cost because riders simply do not
understand the public transportation options available.
[0004] Often mass transportation options available in urban areas
are run by different government entities that coordinate travel
options through regional transportation organizations. Typically,
each transportation option manages payment and scheduling within
its own organization in a manner that balances the cost of the
transportation service and number of travelers. For example,
frequent bus riders typically purchase a pass that allows travel
for a defined time period or number of trips where each trip has a
nominal cost. As a comparison, more expensive travel options, such
as a train, tend to track individual trips where each traveler has
a ticket for each trip. Travelers may typically purchase tickets
ahead of time or at the time of boarding the vehicle. Generally, if
a traveler wants to use different transportation assets run by
different transportation entities, the traveler coordinates each
trip separately. Even where the traveler has an option to obtain
multiple tickets through one purchase process, the traveler
typically has to keep a separate ticket for each travel option.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Therefore, a need has arisen for a system and method which
tracks multimodal transportation assets to coordinate urban travel
for individuals.
[0006] In accordance with the present invention, a system and
method are provided which substantially reduce the disadvantages
and problems associated with previous methods and systems for
coordinating travel across private and public transportation
assets. Access to a transportation asset is managed by distribution
of visually distinct identicons that authorize a traveler to use
the transportation asset. The traveler preauthorizes a travel
expenditure to receive one or more identicons associated with a
travel event, such as with a download of the identicons to a mobile
computing device. An operator of the transportation asset is
presented with an identical identicon for access to the
transportation asset at the time and location of the preauthorized
travel so that the operator authorizes entry onto and
transportation by the transportation asset if a traveler's
identicon matches the operator's identicon. Each identicon is, for
example, automatically generated from defined information to create
a uniquely identifiable visual image that the transportation asset
operator can verify with a visual comparison.
[0007] More specifically, a traveler preauthorizes a charge for
travel on a public transportation asset and downloads one or more
identicons that authorize access to the transportation asset. For
example, an identicon is a visual image presented on a mobile
computing device that matches an identicon on a mobile computing
device of a transportation professional that authorizes access to a
transportation asset. With a mass transportation asset, such as a
bus, an identicon may authorize access to the bus based on time of
day or location, such as a bus stop, so that all riders entering
the bus have the same identicon as the bus driver. In one example
embodiment, the identicon for an asset changes at a regular
interval, such as every minute or every stop. For example,
travelers who preauthorize travel download a set of identicons for
the transportation asset that each match the identicons of the
transportation asset professional. In one embodiment, a traveler
has the preauthorized charge applied when the traveler calls up an
identicon for presentation. In an alternative embodiment, the
preauthorized charge is applied when the time for the
transportation asset use has passed provided the traveler has not
canceled the preauthorization. A traveler is able to traverse
multiple types of transportation assets managed by multiple assets
using the simple presentation of the identicon at entry to each
transportation asset.
[0008] The present invention provides a number of important
technical advantages. One example of an important technical
advantage is that a traveler accesses multimodal transportation
assets across multiple public and/or private transportation
providers with a visual pass that is not tracked by digital data
presented in the pass. The visual pass, referred to herein as an
identicon, is presented by a mobile computing device, such as a
smartphone, based upon a preauthorization paid for by the traveler.
Rather than digitally scanning the identicon, a transportation
professional compares a traveler's identicon to the transportation
professional's own identicon to authorize transportation if a
visual match exists, such as where both the traveler and
transportation professional have identical identicons. In one
example embodiment, the identicon has animation that plays in a
synchronized manner by reference to a common clock, such as a GPS
or cellular network time reference. In one example embodiment, a
traveler may have the same identicon for presentation to access
multiple transportation assets, such as a bus followed by a
rideshare. Simplified access encourages travelers to take advantage
of public transportation assets while leveraging more expensive
private enterprise transportation assets when it is efficient to do
so. Public transportation entities reduce costs and simplify
accounting by avoiding expensive equipment that tracks travelers on
each transportation asset.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The present invention may be better understood, and its
numerous objects, features and advantages made apparent to those
skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The
use of the same reference number throughout the several figures
designates a like or similar element.
[0010] FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a system for coordinating
multi-modal travel of an individual traveler to a destination, such
as across public and commercial enterprise transportation
assets;
[0011] FIG. 2 depicts an example identicon that coordinates use by
a traveler of one or more transportation assets;
[0012] FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of an example embodiment for
pre-authorization of travel with identicons;
[0013] FIG. 4 depicts a transportation assets defined by speed and
cost;
[0014] FIG. 5 depicts a block diagram of an example embodiment of a
transaction engine configured to interact with a mobile computing
device;
[0015] FIG. 6 depicts a flow diagram depicts a process for
distributing and using identicons to authorize travel on a
transportation asset;
[0016] FIG. 7 depicts a block diagram of a mobile computing device
configured to obtain identicons that pre-authorize travel at an
account; and
[0017] FIG. 8 depicts an example of a mobile computing device that
selects identicons for presentation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] A strong public interest is served by encouraging the use of
public transit in urban areas. Public transit reduces pollution,
fuel consumption and road congestion while also making travel
affordable for less fortunate citizens. Government entities that
run public transport often have tight budgets and difficult
schedules driven by public needs. With lower cost transportation
options, such as bus and subway transportation, public entities
support a large number of travelers across a larger number of
routes so that tracking traveler's revenue and costs can present
substantial challenge. Against this background, many citizens avoid
public transportation because the schedules and routes are
difficult to understand, book and successfully navigate to the
unfamiliar traveler. This is especially true for individuals
traveling into an urban area who are unfamiliar with the public
transportation. In many instances, a combination of public and
private transportation assets will efficiently get travelers to a
destination, yet those unfamiliar with public transportation
options will forgo public routes in favor of more expensive options
that are simply easier to access, understand and use, such as an
app that arranges a rideshare all the way to a destination. The
present disclosure proposes a simplified personal computing device
application that provides a multimodal transportation solution with
preauthorized transportation asset access across both public and
private transportation assets. Public transportation resources can
be dedicated to moving people instead unnecessarily complex
accounting and competing with better funded private transportation
entities.
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram depicts a system
for coordinating multi-modal travel of an individual traveler 10 to
a destination, such as across public and commercial enterprise
transportation assets. In the example embodiment, the public and
commercial enterprise transportation assets include air travel,
such as commercial or leased aircraft 12, bus 14 travel, such as
urban mass transportation bus routes or commercial mass or leased
bus/van travel companies, automobile 16 travel, such as personal,
taxi or rideshare car travel, and train 18 travel, such as urban
subway, light train or train assets. Individual traveler 10
interacts with a mobile computing device 20, such as a smartphone,
to coordinate travel across the different transportation assets
through a graphical depiction presented on a display of mobile
computing device 20, such as an identicon 22. The example
embodiments set forth in the following description provide an
example of travel coordination that balances cost and time for the
example transportation assets and are not intended to limit the
scope of the disclosure to the example transportation assets or
example identicon implementations.
[0020] Individual traveler 10 may start a route to a destination
from a variety of locations, such as a commercial location 24 like
the traveler's place of employment, a residential location 26 like
the traveler's home, or a retail location 28 like a store.
Alternatively, a traveler may initiate a route at an intermediate
location between commercial 24, residential 26 and retail 28 start
and destination locations, such as by using mobile computing device
20 to interface with a network 34, such as the Internet through
WiFi 30, cell tower 32, or other communication resources.
Coordination of transportation assets as depicted in the example
embodiment may be performed at a centralized network location or
across multiple computing platforms, including mobile computing
device 20. For instance, one or more government interfaces 36
coordinates transportation asset availability and cost for city 38,
state 40 and federal 42 transportation assets. As another example,
one or more enterprise interfaces 44 coordinates transportation
asset availability and cost for commuter 46, air 48 and ride share
50 assets. Traveler 10 receives instructions at mobile computing
device 20 on how to access selected transportation assets and one
or more identicons 22 that traveler 10 presents for authorization
to access the transportation assets. The example embodiment
addresses presentation and access of traveler 10's route through
mobile computing device 20, however, in alternative embodiments,
identicon 22 may be printed for presentation as a physical ticket
where traveler 10 does not have a mobile computing device 20, such
as by purchasing a one-time access identicon from a public
computing device like a retail outlet or library. In the example
embodiments, network coordination is provided through conventional
computing devices, such as servers supported in a cloud
infrastructure that execute instructions retrieved from
non-transitory memory, such hard disk drives or solid state
drives.
[0021] Referring now to FIG. 2, an example identicon 22 is depicted
that coordinates use by a traveler of one or more transportation
assets. In the example embodiment, identicon 22 is depicted at a
display of a mobile computing device 20 as a visual cue that a
traveler 10 presents at a transportation asset for access based
upon viewing comparison performed by a transportation asset
individual, such as a driver of a bus, vehicle or train. Identicon
22 presented by a traveler 10 is compared by the transportation
asset individual for a visual match to an identicon provided to the
transportation asset individual that authorizes access to a
transportation asset, such as downloaded to a portable computing
device of the transportation professional. If a traveler 10
identicon 22 visually matches that of the transportation asset
individual, the traveler 10 is provided access to the
transportation asset without on-site bookkeeping or tracking
measures that read data, such as a barcode. That is, a simple
visual match comparison is performed for authorization to access a
transportation asset without a digital reading of data from the
traveler identicon 22 so that the transportation asset individual
need only perform a visual comparison and need not rely upon a
computer, optical reader, wireless communication interface or other
data transfer from the traveler's display presentation before
letting the traveler have access to the use of the transportation
asset. As an example, a new identicon 22 is generated at a one
minute time interval at the mobile computing device 20 of traveler
10 and at a transportation asset individual so that the traveler 10
will have a constantly updated identicon that matches the travel
asset individual's identicon for the instances where traveler 10 is
authorized access to the transportation asset. As an alternative
example, identicon 22 updates at each stop of a transportation
asset, such as where identicon 22 authorizes access by all
individuals at a stop along a route who have a matching identicon.
Other examples of identicon use are described in greater detail
below.
[0022] Identicon 22 is, in one example embodiment, an
automatically-generated image or animation presented at a display,
such as a smartphone display. In one example embodiment, identicon
22 is created from a set of input values to have a visually
distinct and unique appearance. The notion of an identicon is to
have a rapid visual comparison by a human eye to confirm a match of
two identicons, one that identifies access associated with a
transportation asset and one that indicates authorization of a
traveler to use the transportation asset through a visual match.
Although identicons are digitally generated, easy visual
identification by a human eye is the goal, not a comparison of
digital values captured in the identicon, such as might be done by
an optical text reader or bar code reader. That is, as used herein
the term identicon does not indicate an algorithmic comparison of
data included in a visual image, such as with a two-dimensional bar
code or similar bar code read by an optical scanner. Rather, the
term identicon as used herein indicates a visual depiction for
visual comparison by the human eye without a transfer of data from
the visual depiction. Visually distinct and unique identicons allow
a transportation professional to quickly and easily authorize a
traveler to use a transportation asset without relying on a machine
and without tracking the traveler's identity or cost of travel at
the transportation asset. The identicon allows the transportation
professional to permit access by a traveler to the transportation
asset without transferring digital data from the identicon or
tracking entry by the traveler with information of the
identicon.
[0023] Information to generate an identicon may come from details
related to the transportation asset, the transportation
professional operating the transportation asset, the transportation
route, and/or the traveler. For example, at the start of a bus
driver's day, bus routes assigned to the bus driver are determined
and associated with locations, such as GPS locations, times, such
as planned departure and arrival times, and the bus driver's unique
identifier so that a series of identicons are created and stored in
the bus driver's smartphone or tablet. As the bus driver's route
progresses through the day, different identicons are presented for
the driver to use as a basis for comparison to traveler identicons
for authorization of the travelers to use the transportation asset.
For instance, a GPS in the driver's mobile computing device may be
used as a reference that determines which identicon to present,
such as a new identicon at each bus stop. As another example, a
time reference, such as from a cellular telephone network or GPS,
is used to determine which identicon to present, such as a new
identicon every minute. As travelers enter the bus, the driver
simply compares the identicon held by the traveler with that
presented on the driver's mobile computing device and allows the
traveler to enter the bus if a match exists. In the example
embodiment where identicon's change based upon a time interval or
route position, if the bus driver suspects an imposter identicon,
the bus driver can have the traveler re-present the identicon at
the next identicon change to ensure that the traveler did not
fraudulently obtain the identicon.
[0024] Advantageously, an identicon may provide a single traveler
access across multiple modes of transportation without the traveler
having to hold a ticket or other authorization to access each
transportation asset. For example, a traveler who takes a bus to an
intermediate destination and then takes a rideshare to a final
destination may load an identicon to board the bus while the same
identicon is provided to the rideshare driver to authorize the
rideshare from the intermediate destination to the final
destination. The "strength" of the identicon may vary based upon
the expense of the travel mode authorized by the identicon and/or
the risk of fraud through presentation of imposter or copied
identicons. Taking the above example a step further, the identicon
on the traveler's mobile device may start as a still image that
matches the identicon of the bus driver for the initial part of the
traveler's route. Upon leaving the bus and entering the rideshare,
the identicon image transitions to show an animation that starts
from the identicon image used to authorize the bus ride and
continues on to show a visually distinct set of images in animation
form that is also stored at a mobile computing device of the
rideshare driver. In one embodiment, reference to a common clock
allows both mobile devices to synchronize the animations to each
other so that visual matching of the animation identicons is more
easily accomplished.
[0025] In the example identicon depicted by FIG. 2, the visually
distinct image is built from an arrangement of blocks that have
identifiable forms and colors. Underneath the identicon, the
traveler is provided information about the route and the
transportation assets involved in the traveler's transportation
transaction. The traveler has only to show the identicon to
authorize the transportation by the route and the transportation
professional validating the identicon has only to visually match
the traveler's identicon with the identicon provided for access to
the transportation asset to authorize the traveler's use of the
transportation asset. No data is read or intended to be read from
the identicon and no tracking of the use of the identicon is needed
at the transportation asset. As set forth below, the traveler
pre-authorizes a charge when selecting a route and storing an
identicon. The cost transaction related to the preauthorized charge
may be triggered by any number of events that need not be tracked
at the transportation asset. For example, a cost transaction may be
charged when a traveler opens the identicon, whether or not the
identicon is used for authorization to a transportation asset. As
another example, a cost transaction may be charged if the
pre-authorization is not canceled before a time that the travel is
scheduled to take place.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 3, a block diagram depicts an example
embodiment for pre-authorization of travel with identicons. In the
example embodiment, mobile computing device 20 provides an
interface for travelers to plan, pre-authorize and expense travel
routes. Mobile computing device 20 stores route pre-authorizations
as identicons in a persistent memory having an identicon database
52 and expenses the routes as the identicons are retrieved to
authorize travel. Mobile computing device 20 plans a route through
communication with a route engine 54 and expenses the route through
a transaction engine 56. For example, route engine 54 and
transaction engine 56 are stored in non-transient memory of one or
more servers interfaced with the Internet and accessible by mobile
computing device 20, such as the Internet. Route engine 54 executes
on processing resources of the server to access available travel
assets responsive to traveler requests. In the example embodiment,
route engine 54 interfaces through a network with multiple modes of
transportation assets available to support travel to a proposed
destination. Route engine 54 queries separate transportation asset
availabilities and costs to generate alternatives for a traveler to
select that satisfy the traveler's travel time and expense
constraints. Once the traveler selects a route, transaction engine
56 allocates cost to the selected transportation assets and
associates the cost with identicon usage as set forth in greater
detail below.
[0027] An example usage helps to illustrate interaction between
route engine 54 and transaction engine 56 to support a
transportation transaction through presentation and visual matching
of an identicon. As an example, a traveler plans to travel from his
home to an office of his employer in a different city. Through
mobile device 20 the traveler inputs a starting location and time,
a destination location and time, and other constraints, such as
budget and travel time flexibility. FIG. 4 provides an example of
how expense and travel time vary across different types of
transportation assets, such as may be considered by route engine 54
when proposing routes. Multimodal transportation options provided
as options in FIG. 4 include rapid and expensive options, such as
air, personal vehicle and rideshare transportation, slow yet
expensive options, such as a cruise ship, slower and less expensive
options, such as bus and train transportation, and slow inexpensive
options, such as walking. Route engine 54 considers all available
options for the traveler by querying asset availability and cost
from transportation modalities disposed along the route, such as a
bus route server 58, a taxi server 60, a ride share server 62, a
rail route server 64 and walking routes 66. In one embodiment,
route engine 54 requests cost bids from each transportation asset,
such as by auctioning route transportation options to obtain the
best available pricing. Such an embodiment aids the transportation
modalities by encouraging transportation assets use in an efficient
manner, such as by lowering ticket prices if fixed costs for a trip
segment are met, or raising ticket prices if fixed costs associated
with additional travelers does not justify assignment of additional
transportation assets in a particular modality. In one embodiment,
the transportation asset auctioning may include bids by travelers
for preferred assets where availability is limited, such as if an
airplane is near full.
[0028] Once route engine 54 has configured route options within the
traveler's constraints, the traveler is presented the route options
at mobile computing device 20 to select a route for purchase or
scheduling. The route selection is passed to transaction engine 56
to secure the transportation assets for the selected route segments
and pass identicons to mobile computing device 20's identicon
database 52. The type of identicons and transaction tracking
enforced by transaction engine 56 may vary depending upon the
relative cost of the transportation asset involved and other
factors. For example, a bus identicon transaction may be managed by
sending to mobile computing device 20 a set of identicons that
visually match the selected bus route over the time period that the
traveler will enter the bus to use the purchased bus ride. For
instance, each bus route may have an identicon assigned for each
minute of the day so that the traveler is provided with a set of
the day's identicons for the time period around which the user will
enter the bus. Alternatively, a particular identicon may be
assigned for entry at a particular route location and time. In a
preferred embodiment, identicons are stored as images or animations
in a secure area that restricts access by a traveler to the
identicon until the traveler is prepared to apply the
pre-authorization represented by the identicon by selection of the
identicon to use the identicon's associated transportation asset.
In an alternative embodiment, an identicon formula is stored in a
secure location on the mobile computing device to generate an
identicon at selection by a user for use of a transportation asset.
Transaction engine 56 may apply similar identicon transaction
tracking and storage for mass transit transportation assets similar
to bus assets, such as trains, light rail and subways.
[0029] Transaction engine 56 may apply more precise identicon
tracking with greater security as the transportation asset
increases in cost. Generally, more expensive transportation assets
involve greater involvement by the transportation professional
managing the transportation asset. For example, a rideshare might
involve a single driver and a single rider; however, from a cost
tracking perspective of the traveler, the rideshare is a segment of
a route. Transaction engine 56 may provide greater security for
rideshare and similar higher-cost identicons by including animation
or more complex identicon images that are difficult to replicate,
such as by using personal information associated with the traveler
as part of the identicon generation. Additional security may be
included for managing application of pre-authorized travel as costs
through identicon use. For example, presentation of the identicon
may be withheld until the traveler is within a limited time or
location relative to the start of the transportation segment. As
another example, the identicon cost is applied upon selection of
the identicon by the traveler, however, selection of the identicon
is protected by a password of the traveler and/or a warning that
selection of the identicon applies the cost and risks exposure of
the identicon to access by an unauthorized individual.
[0030] The traveler is assessed a cost based upon pre-authorization
when a condition is met, such as presentation of the identicon,
which retrieves the identicon from secure storage and makes the
identicon public. With such a condition, the identicon access is
reported from mobile computing device 20 to transaction engine 56
for cost allocation. Alternatively, a cost may be applied if the
traveler has not canceled the identicon as of the time at which the
transportation asset is scheduled. In one alternative embodiment,
cost may be applied upon transfer of the identicon to the mobile
computing device 20. Advantageously, tracking of identicon
presentation is not needed at the transportation asset so that data
reading or transfer related to the identicon is not performed by a
transportation professional, such as a bus driver. Rather, a visual
check for a match to the transportation professional's identicon
authorizes access of the traveler to the transportation asset.
[0031] Referring now to FIG. 5, a block diagram depicts an example
embodiment of transaction engine 56 configured to interact with
mobile computing device 20. Transaction engine 56 executes as
instructions on a server computer, such as an application executing
on a central processing unit (CPU) 72 and stored in random access
memory (RAM) 74. For example, transaction engine 56 is stored in a
solid state drive (SSD) 76 or other persistent non-transient memory
and retrieved to execute over a virtual machine in a cloud
infrastructure. A network interface card (NIC) 78 supports network
communication by transaction engine 56, such as with a local area
network (LAN) that interfaces with the Internet. Alternatively,
transaction engine 56 may execute on a client device that
interfaces through the Internet to support generation of physical
printed identicon tickets 70, such as a client in a retail location
or library. Transaction engine 56 retrieves available routes
through a route interface 82 interfaced with route engine 54 and
pre-authorizes costs for selected routes with an account interface
84 that ties into traveler payment options, such as an account
having a credit card or other payment methods.
[0032] Mobile computing device 20 interfaces with transaction
engine 56 through network 34 to receive identicons and report
completed transportation transactions. Mobile computing device 20
has a CPU 72 that executes instructions stored in RAM 74, such as
instructions of an application stored in persistent non-transitory
memory of a solid state drive (SSD) 76. A wireless network
interface card (WNIC) 80 supports communications with network 34 to
transfer identicon and transaction information. In the example
embodiment, an app executes on mobile computing device 20, such as
over iOS, Android or Windows operating systems, to interface a
traveler with transportation transactions, such as downloading and
storing identicons in identicon database 52 with pre-authorized
travel and applying identicons to authorize or cost transportation
transactions. In the example embodiment, a transaction selector 82
presents transaction options to a traveler for the travel to select
as pre-authorized routes. For instance, transaction selector 82
receives a traveler pre-authorization for a presented route and, in
response, retrieves and stores one or more identicons associated
with the route. Once a route is pre-authorized, transaction tracker
84 manages application of the pre-authorization to expense the
transportation when pre-authorization conditions associated with
the identicon are met, such as a presentation of the identicon at
display 68 of mobile computing device 20. In one embodiment,
tracking of use of identicons does not have to happen in real time,
such as upon entry at the transportation asset. For example, a
network communication does not have to exist in order to report
identicon use with the use instead stored in identicon database 52
until a subsequent reporting time. In one embodiment, such as where
an identicon has a high cost that is not expensed until the
identicon is shown, transaction tracker may enforce some level of
reporting before presenting the identicon at display 68. For
instance, an acknowledgement of the traveler's authorization to
cost the identicon may be presented, accepted and stored in
identicon database 52 so that the traveler will have to present
mobile computing device 20 should the traveler contest application
of a cost for the identicon.
[0033] Referring now to FIG. 6, a flow diagram depicts a process
for distributing and using identicons to authorize travel on a
transportation asset. At step 88, a traveler pre-authorizes a
transportation transaction, such as through a mobile app by
selecting a route to a destination that uses transportation assets.
At step 90, in response to the pre-authorization, a copy of one or
more identicons that authorize use of the transportation assets is
copied to the travelers mobile computing device, such as in secure
storage within the app that pre-authorized the transportation
transaction. At this point in the process, the traveler has agreed
to pay for the transportation but has not been charged, where the
pre-authorization includes conditions that the traveler agrees will
authorize a charge, such as the time for the transportation asset
passing without cancellation of the identicon. Once
pre-authorization is performed and an identicon copied to the
traveler's mobile computing device, the traveler may initiate
transportation with some anonymity as the transaction of presenting
the identicon and using the transportation asset does not have to
be tracked in real time. At step 92, the traveler selects the
transaction to use the pre-authorized travel by, at step 94,
displaying the identicon. At step 96, upon presentation of the
identicon the transaction is applied against the pre-authorized
travel to cost the travel against the traveler. For example, in
response to presentation of the identicon, a token is stored in
association with the identicon on the mobile computing device to
indicate that costing of the identicon was authorized by the
traveler in the event the traveler challenges the charge at a
future time.
[0034] Referring now to FIG. 7, a block diagram depicts a mobile
computing device 20 configured to obtain identicons that
pre-authorize travel at an account. Although travelers typically
rely on one mobile computing device 20 during travel, in some
instances travelers will have multiple devices, such as a device
provided by an employer and a personal device. In some instances,
travelers track travel expenses differently for employer travel
that is expensed to the employer and personal travel that the
traveler pays for himself. To manage separate accounts on the go,
the traveler may manage identicons with a network engine 98 and an
internal engine 100. For example, an enterprise may host its own
travel platform with an internal engine 100 that generates and
tracks identicons for employees. The traveler may also interact
with a personal account through a network engine 98. A verification
engine 102 integrated in the mobile compute device 20 tracks the
use of personal versus business identicons to allow an employer to
verify that authorized travel is used for business purposes. For
example, as business identicons are displayed, GPS location or
other verification information may be captured by the employee
mobile device and reported back to the employer to validate
business travel expenses. In contrast, personal identicon use by
the traveler may be kept anonymous and separate from employment
records.
[0035] Referring now to FIG. 8, an example of a mobile computing
device 20 is depicted that selects identicons for presentation. At
a transportation asset, the traveler presents mobile computing
device 20 and selects a transaction button 104 on the display 68
touchscreen to present an identicon that authorizes access to the
transportation asset. At selection of the identicon, transaction
selector 82 generates an authorization for a charge associated with
the identicon, stores the charge locally on mobile computing device
20 and, in one embodiment, communicates the charge to a network
based engine 98. In order to manage attempts to cheat by copying
identicons that will permit multiple accesses, such as a bus
access, transaction selector 82 enforces a charge upon selection of
the identicon so that premature selection will result in the
traveler displaying an invalid or out of date identicon at the time
of access to the transportation asset. For example, the traveler is
provided with a warning at selection of an identicon that the
identicon will only be valid for a limited time period. If the
traveler attempts to cheat the system by premature display of the
identicon so that others may attempt to copy the identicon, the
identicon becomes invalid and the traveler is charged for the
identicon selection. In one embodiment, a refund button 106 is made
available at the mobile computing device to request a refund by a
refund engine 108 for an inadvertent identicon presentation. Refund
engine 108 has access to identicons and identicon cost information
stored at mobile computing device 20 that allows analysis of the
traveler's behavior. If, for example, a traveler requests refunds
repeatedly, refund engine 108 may place tighter constraints upon
the traveler related to the selection of identicons and refunding
of charge authorizations. For instance, if refund behavior
indicates that a traveler prematurely presents identicons in an
attempt to copy the identicons for use by others, the traveler may
be restricted to a smaller identicon presentation window or GPS
location relative to travel authorized by the identicon on a
transportation asset. Further, refund requests will be more readily
denied where a traveler's behavior indicates an attempt to game the
system. As an example, with a bus identicon that changes every
minute, upon selection of the identicon a traveler may be provided
with 5 minutes of changing identicons so that the traveler has a
window of time to enter the bus. In contrast, a traveler you shows
dishonest behavior may be provides with a more limited window or
just one identicon so that the traveler will have more difficulty
copying an identicon in a timely manner that would allow
cheating.
[0036] Although the present invention has been described in detail,
it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and
alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
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